Swish! Swish! Swish!
Donald demonstrated with steady precision as he taught the young, white-haired boy who was standing in front of him with a pair of curious eyes.
"When you swing your blade, it should feel like the sword is an extension of your own body. There are 12 basic sword moves; comprehending them thoroughly allows you to evolve new variations and create new sword techniques. For instance…"
"Watch closely, boy," Donald instructed, taking a stance. His right leg stepped forward about two feet while his left leg was pressed backward. Then, with a booming sound, he surged forward, shouting, "Rushing Wave Strike!"
With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged forward. Kranos's eyes widened in astonishment because the next moment, Donald had seemingly vanished. If not for Kranos's high affinity with the space element that allowed him to detect faint spatial ripples, he would have assumed his teacher had truly disappeared.
His speed is so fast! It is almost like he is teleporting. Kranos was stunned. He couldn't even see how Donald moved. As he took a moment to calm his breathing, Donald had already reappeared several kilometers away.
"This is just the result of combining a few basic sword moves: the stab, the slash, and another stab—infused with the knight's breathing technique. When properly synchronized, the result becomes terrifying.
Kranos watched eagerly, his excitement growing. He couldn't wait to begin learning the basics.
At this moment something surfaced in Donald's hand, which he tossed toward Kranos.
Kranos caught it and saw that it was a scroll. He slowly slid it open, and inscribed on it were a series of illustrated stances, each showing a different posture and motion.
"This is the Knight's Breathing Technique," Donald said calmly. Kranos also realized that the words knight breathing technique were written boldly at the top of the scroll.
Kranos was curious: would I be able to practice the knight's breathing technique despite the fact that I have an aptitude with cultivation? Unable to hold in his curiosity, Kranos asked while phrasing it in a different way.
"Teacher, can someone who possesses a root bone still train in the Knight's Breathing Technique?"
Donald was taken aback for a moment, then sighed softly. He must still be feeling disappointed about not awakening a root bone. Obviously he hadn't been informed by Kranos or his parents about his late awakening.
Trying to ease his student's concern, Donald replied, "Yes, even those with root bones can practice the Knight's Breathing Technique."
He continued, "In truth, the Knight's Breathing Technique is simply a method for mortals to infuse small amounts of essence into their bodies—to make them tougher, stronger, and faster. Those with root bones usually don't bother with it because they have access to far superior cultivation techniques."
Donald sighed and added with some regret, "Compared to true cultivation methods, the Knight's Breathing Technique is... trash, honestly."
Kranos was shocked. I thought this technique could at least rival proper cultivation methods. To think it's that inferior... so, in this world, having a cultivation root bone truly is all that matters in this world.
"Anyway," Donald said, shifting the focus back, "you're not yet ready to start practicing the sword techniques or the breathing method. Your body still needs to adapt. We'll begin with foundational exercises: push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and so on."
Donald began demonstrating each motion carefully. Over the past few years, Kranos had spent most of his time reading in the royal library, rarely engaging in physical training.
Now's the perfect time to put some muscle on this skinny frame, he thought inwardly.
"We'll start light—twenty reps of each," Donald stated firmly. While it might seem like a harsh beginning, Donald knew Kranos's body had been subtly nourished by the ambient Mana in the air constantly nourishing him. Not to mention, the food he consumed was out of the ordinary.
"Yes, Teacher." Without hesitation, Kranos threw himself into the exercises. Though it was exhausting at first, he soon got the hang of it. It's probably because I haven't exercised in so long… My body's not used to it anymore, he thought. Kranos muttered inwardly.
…
Time passed, and soon the sun had gone down the horizon.
Pant! Pant! Pant!
Kranos lay sprawled on the ground, breathless and drenched in sweat. He felt as though his throat was on fire and every muscle ached. It was stressful; it truly was. He had wanted to give up multiple times, but with Donald pushing him, he endured until the end.
Dragging his aching body, he began the short walk back home. The distance wasn't far, but it felt like miles. As soon as he stepped into the parlor, he collapsed onto the couch.
Hearing a noise, a middle-aged woman stepped out from the adjacent room. "Mother…" Kranos managed to mutter under his breath.
"Welcome back, son. How was training today?" Anna asked, stepping into the room. But the moment she saw his exhausted state, her tone shifted, laced with worry. "What did that old man do to my poor baby?"
Without delay, she rushed into his bedroom. Moments later, she emerged and said, "Son, go and soak in the medicinal bath in your bathroom."
Hearing his mother's urgent voice, Kranos felt warm in his heart; he stood up, dragging his body like a log of wood, and made his way to the bathroom.
What is this? Entering the bathroom, Kranos was stunned. The tub he normally bathed in was filled with a pale green liquid, bubbling gently. He could scent a peculiar, fragrant herbal scent, and he noticed that there were a few mystical-looking leaves floating on the surface.
Restraining his thoughts due to his tiredness, he quickly undressed and slipped into the bath. Instantly, a soothing warmth enveloped him, easing his soreness. Although he still felt quite itchy, his tiredness and fatigue had subsided greatly.
This feels incredible…